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92716
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 12:56
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http://m.oananews.org//node/92716
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CPM criticises India's vote against Iran at IAEA
New Delhi, Dec 1, IRNA – The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) Monday criticised the government for voting against Iran at the IAEA and demanded a statement explaining why the resolution moved by the US was supported.
Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) during Zero Hour, CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia said it was "unfortunate" that India had voted along with the US to censure Iran at the International Atomic Engery Agency (IAEA) last week.
He criticised the resolution, saying it came at a time when discussions were on between Iran and the West over the nuclear issue and Iran had agreed to allow IAEA inspections at its atomic sites, PTI reported.
Acharia questioned India's decision to go along with the US on the resolution when a number of countries abstained and three countries opposed.
"There was a high-level meeting in Washington before the Government of India decided to vote against Iran," the CPI(M) leader said citing media reports.
Amid objections by some Congress members to his contention, he asked the government to give a statement, clarifying as to what prompted it to support the resolution.
After voting for the resolution, India said it did so as it does not want Iran to acquire nuclear weapons and that the Persian nation should adhere to the obligations as a signatory of NPT.
At the same time, it said the resolution should not be the basis for "further punitive" action against Iran and the matter should be resolved through dialogue.
Acharia apprehended that India was "moving towards" the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which, he said, is being "thrust on us".
Making it clear that India should not sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), he said there was consensus in Parliament that these treaties were "discriminatory" and "we are against discrimination".
He also accused the government of "shelving" the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline, while noting that India had procured gas at cheap prices. "There is no mention of the pipeline," Acharia said.
The CPI(M) leader pointed out that the government had come under criticism in Parliament for voting against Iran in 2006 but despite that it undertook the same action again. /end
Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) during Zero Hour, CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia said it was "unfortunate" that India had voted along with the US to censure Iran at the International Atomic Engery Agency (IAEA) last week.
He criticised the resolution, saying it came at a time when discussions were on between Iran and the West over the nuclear issue and Iran had agreed to allow IAEA inspections at its atomic sites, PTI reported.
Acharia questioned India's decision to go along with the US on the resolution when a number of countries abstained and three countries opposed.
"There was a high-level meeting in Washington before the Government of India decided to vote against Iran," the CPI(M) leader said citing media reports.
Amid objections by some Congress members to his contention, he asked the government to give a statement, clarifying as to what prompted it to support the resolution.
After voting for the resolution, India said it did so as it does not want Iran to acquire nuclear weapons and that the Persian nation should adhere to the obligations as a signatory of NPT.
At the same time, it said the resolution should not be the basis for "further punitive" action against Iran and the matter should be resolved through dialogue.
Acharia apprehended that India was "moving towards" the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which, he said, is being "thrust on us".
Making it clear that India should not sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), he said there was consensus in Parliament that these treaties were "discriminatory" and "we are against discrimination".
He also accused the government of "shelving" the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline, while noting that India had procured gas at cheap prices. "There is no mention of the pipeline," Acharia said.
The CPI(M) leader pointed out that the government had come under criticism in Parliament for voting against Iran in 2006 but despite that it undertook the same action again. /end
